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The quarterly newsletter of U.S. EPA's Homeland Security
Technology Testing & Evaluation Program (TTEP)
"Bird Flu" arid Variola Virus Persistence arid Decontamination
which viruses
will remain
viable on surfaces
following a period
of exposure
to typical
environmental
Dried H5N1 Virus on Chicken Feces (1 Hour)
See Persistence & Decontamination next page
because the variola smallpox virus is easily transportable
in a temperature-stable, freeze-dried state, tests with the
vaccina virus were conducted to mimic these conditions.
The vaccinia virus was applied to building material
coupons as an aqueous suspension and then the coupons
containing that suspension were freeze-dried. The
coupons were then
exposed to various
environmental
conditions (room
and low temperature,
high and low relative
humidity).
Testing with
the H5N1 vims
focused on materials
typically found outdoors at a poultry farm (chicken feces,
galvanized metal, glass, and soil) and typical outdoor
environmental conditions, given that this virus is often
associated with poultry. Following exposure durations
ranging from 1 to 13 days, the H5N1 vims was extracted
from the coupons and the viable virus that remained was
determined through standard viral enumeration techniques
(see results table, next page).
TTEP recently completed laboratory testing with the highly
pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus (the etiologic agent of
"bird flu") and the vaccinia vims (a surrogate for the variola
vims, which causes smallpox) related to their persistence
in the environment and the efficacy of various liquids to
inactivate the vimses or render them nonviable. Determining
the extent to	fl,:. ,i I I, I^Rl. IHH!
conditions (i.e.,
persistence) or
an application of a decontamination technology provides
important information on the potential for subsequent human
exposure.
Several aspects of the investigation advanced the fields
of persistence testing and decontamination technology
evaluations. For example, ultraviolet light (UV-A and
UV-B only) was incorporated into some of the H5N1 vims
persistence testing to simulate natural sunlight, and longer
exposure durations of up to 56 days were incorporated into
some of the vaccinia vims persistence tests. In addition,
Welcome to TTEP
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is actively participating in the national homeland security effort by ensuring the protection of the nation's
drinking water systems and the safety of the public in buildings and other structures. The National Homeland Security Research Center under EPA's Office
of Research and Development has established the Technology Testing and Evaluation Program (TTEP) to assist this effort. TTEP is conducting third-party
performance evaluations of commercially available homeland security technologies, incorporating stakeholder guidance and a high degree of quality assur-
ance oversight. Completed TTEP documents may be found at www.epa.gov/nhsrc/ttep.htmL Questions about TTEP should be directed to Mr. Eric Koglin
(koglin.eric@epa.gov or 702-798-2332).

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Persistence & Decontamination (cont.)
Liquid decontamination testing with
the FI5N1 virus was conducted with
1% citric acid, pH-amended bleach
(pH lowered to approximately 7), a
hospital- grade quaternary ammonium
compound, and 8% sodium carbonate.
These chemicals were selected because
they are expected to be readily available
for use and amenable for wide-area
decontaminations. The H5N1 virus
was spiked onto galvanized metal
and soil coupons and exposed to the
decontamination liquid for 10 minutes.
The persistence of the vaccinia vims
was investigated after initially being
freeze-dried on glass, galvanized metal,
painted cinder block, and industrial
carpet. The decontamination efficacy
of 1% citric acid and the quaternary
ammonium compound in inactivating
the vaccinia virus was evaluated.
Two TTEP evaluation reports (one
focused on the H5N1 virus and one
focuses on the vaccinia virus) will be
forthcoming and posted on the EPA
NHSRC website (www.epa.gov/nhsrc).
For more information about this testing,
please contact Mr. Joseph Wood (wood,
joe a epa.gox or 919-541-5029).
Persistence and
Decontamination of VX
on Surface Materials
TTEP has been evaluating
decontamination strategies for
environmentally persistent chemical
agents. Previous technology evaluations
have been conducted under relatively
short surface aging times (minutes to
hours) for chemical agents. As part
of a new TTEP evaluation that will
be conducted over the next several
months, Battelle will evaluate the
effect of chemical agent (VX) surface
aging for time periods of days to
weeks on decontamination efficiency.
Decontamination technologies to
be evaluated include bleach, caustic
cleaner (i.e., ZEP Industrial Purple®)
and hydrogen peroxide cleaner (i.e.,
Oxiclean® Versatile).
VX will be applied to interior
building material surfaces and allowed
to age for as long as three weeks
after which die persistence will be
determined as well as the efficacy of
various decontamination approaches
(listed above). This will provide the
EPA with valuable information on
how to best treat and decontaminate
buildings contaminated with VX. For
more information on this evaluation,
contact Dr. Sang Don Lee (lee.
sangdon@epa.gov or 919-541-4531).
Attention Vendors: Technology Information Needed
The EPA's NHSRC is gathering existing technology product and performance
information for existing, new, and emerging technologies relevant to the
detection, decontamination, remediation and sampling of water treatment
infrastructure, building materials and structures, outdoor areas, and indoor air
for chemical, biological, and radiological warfare agents. These information
summaries will be based on vendor provided data and will be offered for
use to emergency responders, consequence managers, and water utility
operators. If you would like to participate in this voluntary effort, please
send the name, phone number, and email address of an appropriate person
who can be contacted for additional information regarding your technology
to bcotteptechinfo@battelle.org. For additional information, please contact
Mary Schrock at 614-424-4976.
Evaluation of Online Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Analyzers and Ultraviolet (UV) Spectrometers
This evaluation will be conducted during Summer 2009 and
include the following technologies:
TOC Analyzers	UV Spectrometers
GE-Sievers 900 Portable Real-Tech Real UV254 Security
01 Analytical 9210m	s::can Spectrolyzer
For more information, please contact Dr. Shannon Serre
(919-541-3817 or serre.shannon@epa.gov) or
Dr. Ryan James (614-424-7954 orjamesr@battelle.org).
Participating technologies shown connected to EPA's
portable pipe loop.
V,

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